You may have heard of Functional Medicine, but what exactly is it? And, more importantly, how can it benefit you? Dr. Ronak Patel, naturopathic physician at SantéMD, believes firmly that Functional Medicine is the future of healthcare.
According to Dr. Patel, Functional Medicine addresses the underlying causes of a patient’s condition by using a systems-oriented approach and engaging both the patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership. Rather than focusing solely on a diagnosis, Functional Medicine seeks to treat the entire body in totality.
Functional Medicine can significantly help anyone experiencing health issues such as asthma, anxiety, fibromyalgia, ADHA, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, eczema, IBS, food allergies, hormone imbalance, migraines and many other concerns that affect one’s daily life.
“The reason Functional Medicine works so well is because it addresses the root of these conditions, rather than focusing on symptom management,” notes Dr. Patel. “After seeing patients go through the conventional medical pinball system, it’s often remarkable how many providers do not connect the dots. Drugs are great for acute care, but are often not the answer for complex, chronic issues.” Instead, Functional Medicine offers a different approach, one with lifestyle, nutrition, and stress interventions, as well as advanced lab testing.
Practitioners at SantéMD spend time listening to the concerns of patients, as well as looking at interactions between their environment, and genetic and lifestyle factors that influence overall health.
“SantéMD is unique in that we don’t just offer a pill to an ill, but rather a comprehensive, individualized approach to health and wellness,” concludes Dr. Patel.
SantéMD offers several services that Dr. Patel often recommends for his patients, depending on their health and wellness needs:
The SantéMD team of experts takes a collaborative approach to weight loss. The state-of-the-art center houses the latest-generation assessment equipment, including the Fit3D® Body Scan, hailed as the most accurate way to take external body measurements and track your progress.
The center takes a Functional Medicine approach to weight loss, seeking to identify and address the causes of each patient’s unique weight loss struggles. Everyone is unique – the reason behind one person’s inability to lose weight can vastly differ from another. SantéMD customizes treatment plans to each patient’s needs with a focus on restoring optimal health and overall wellbeing.
Advanced Lab Testing
SantéMD utilizes cutting-edge labs such as nutritional testing, food sensitivity testing and microbiome testing to achieve more targeted results than conventional approaches. These tests offer a valuable snapshot of the body’s metabolism and biochemistry. Through Functional Medicine, SantéMD can use the results of these labs to customize and tailor specific strategies to each patient’s particular needs.
Vitamin hydration therapy can help improve and support overall wellness while treating a range of health conditions. Everything from headaches to chronic depression to athletic performance can be improved with vitamin hydration therapy. SantéMD’s Vitamin IV program offers a variety of options from which to choose. The staff works with patients to customize this service specifically to their concerns and needs. Also, patients can select add-on boosts of vitamins and antioxidants and even aromatherapy oxygen.
The team of certified medical professionals at SantéMD works with patients to complete a thorough initial consultation and provides nutritional counseling and meal plans for a sustainable program that is easy to continue and use in everyday life. The team also educates patients on how to work through common challenges on their nutritional journey that may come up in daily life -- ultimately leading to healthier, sustainable habits.
Supplements
Not all supplements are created equally, nor are they regulated. In over-the-counter supplements, for example, the form of the nutrient may not be absorbed very well by the body. SantéMD offers pharmaceutical-grade supplements that are additive-, dye-, filler-, gluten- and dairy-free, and certified GMP (good manufacturing process) and NSF (certified for sports) products. SantéMD also has gluten- and dairy-free meal replacement shakes, as well as options for hormone or GI support.
If you are interested in learning more about Functional Medicine and what it can do for your health and wellbeing, the knowledgeable and experienced team of specialists at SantéMD can help. To begin your SantéMD journey into beauty, health and wellness, call (404) 682-6663 or visit santemd.com.
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